Conversations with the
Duke of Wellington
Appendix (1816 Edition)
by John Hussey, UK
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From the 1816 English edition of 'The Campaign of 1815' by C de M [Müffling] pages 1 to 4 On the forenoon of the 15th of June, intelligence came to Prince Blücher at Namur, and at half past four P M [sic, a timing different from that recollected in the Memoirs of 1844] reached the Duke of Wellington at Brussels, that the Prussian 1st Corps . . . had been attacked by the enemy, advancing in the direction of Charleroi. [A brief account of the fall of Charleroi at 11 A M and of 1st Corps consequent moves, and the arrival of 2nd and 3rd Corps at Sombreffe overnight and in the morning of the 16th.] On the 15th, at six o'clock P M the Duke of Wellington gave orders for the whole army to be kept in readiness to march; awaiting, however, whether reports from Mons should announce the advance of any enemy columns in that quarter. This being ascertained by midnight not to be the case, the reserve received orders to traverse the wood of Soignies, a movement which was accomplished by ten o'clock on the morning of the 16th. The Hereditary Prince of Orange had concentrated his corps at Nivelles, his left being at Quatre Bras, with his advanced posts at Frasnes. This point had already been attacked on the evening of the 15th, but successfully defended by a regiment of Nassau. On the morning of the 16th, at eleven o'clock the Duke of Wellington arrived at Quatre Bras, reconnoitred the enemy, found them weak in the neighbourhood of Frasnes, but teceived intelligence from Prince Blücher, that considerable masses were moving against him, and that he had taken up a position near Sombreff, in which he would await the enemy's attack. The Duke of Wellington having determined to support Prince Blücher to the utmost, directed his whole army upon Nivelles and Quatre Bras, but finding it could not arrive before four o'clock, repaired in person to the Field-Marshal, whom he found in the Windmill, between Ligny and Bry, just as the enemy developed his mode of attack. [A brief description of the defensive position.] The attack appearing to be directed entirely against Prince Blücher, the question was, how the Duke of Wellington could most effectually support him. The Duke offered to force what the enemy had opposed to him at Frasnes, and to march upon Gosselies. This movement, however decisive its result might have been is not likely that the Duke should be able to effect in the course of the day; and Prince Blücher, it was dreaded, might run the risk of being crushed by Bonaparte's whole [sic] force, before the flanking movement could be accomplished. It was therefore deemed more expedient that the Duke should direct his army by the high road of Quatre Bras, to support the Prince. With an intention of executing this measure, the Duke of Wellington again proceeded to Quatre Bras about three, where an action took place. On the arrival of the Duke at Quatre Bras, he was informed, that the enemy had been greatly reinforced at Frasnes, and about four an attack actually ensued . . . Conversations with the Duke of Wellington Dörnbergs Account of the Start of the Waterloo Campaign Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire # 73 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com |